Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia on 21 May for an informal summit. This was the first informal meet between the two leaders though they have been having telephonic conversations at regular intervals. The summit was held on the lines of the Wuhan informal summit between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The meeting was arranged after an invitation extended by President Putin.1 PM Modi’s meeting with President Putin is the first since the re-election of Putin as the President of Russia. PM Modi before leaving for the informal meeting with President Putin had said that the talks will further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.2
The significance of the meeting lies in the timing of the meeting. It took place before the Shangri-La Dialogue (1 June), SCO Summit (7 June) and the upcoming BRICS Summit (25-27 July). The meeting also took place after the imposition of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act’ (CAATSA) on Russia and America’s pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.
The meeting did not come up with any agreement or MOU as the visit was in an informal format. However, the speeches by the two leaders and other official statements issued by both the sides highlight the importance of the informal meeting.
This paper analyzes the documents/statements released by both sides following the summit. In doing so, it identifies important themes of discussion and tries to understand each side’s position by analysing text of the documents in terms of identical/similar positions, differences of opinions and important missing aspects on any particular theme.
Following documents from the Indian side are consulted:
(d) “Meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President Vladimir Putin”, Press release6 by the Indian Embassy at the Russian Federation, May 21, 2018.
(e) “PM’s informal interaction with children of “Sirius” Educational Centre at Sochi, Russia (May 21, 2018)”, Press release7 by the Indian Embassy at the Russian Federation, May 21, 2018.
The documents from the Russian side include:
Themes |
Indian Documents |
Russian Documents |
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On the Informal Summit |
Pm Modi said that “We meet regularly for our bilateral meetings. But I am grateful to President Putin that he invited me for an informal meeting. In the series of a long program this meeting has added a new dimension to our long standing relationship. Today you have added the new dimension of Informal summit through your innovation to the tradition of the Annual bilateral summits that started 18 years ago. To my understanding, this in itself has opened up an opportunity to create a new level of trust.”
The MEA statement said that the informal summit provided an occasion for both leaders to deepen their friendship and to exchange views on international and regional issues, in keeping with the tradition of high level political exchanges between India and Russia.
The two leaders welcomed the idea of holding informal Summits as an additional engagement at leadership level, besides the Annual Summits between the two leaders.
Tweet: PM Modi said that the talks were productive and extremely successful ( Putin se Batchit Atyant Safal: Modi) between him and President Putin. The two leaders welcomed the idea of holding informal Summits as an additional engagement at leadership level, besides the Annual Summits between the two leaders. |
President Putin said “I would like to start by thanking you for accepting our invitation and coming to this meeting.”
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the talks were long, candid, extensive and friendly. Both leaders will continue to talk in informal settings. Mr. Lavrov is convinced that the ongoing informal communication between the leaders of Russia and India will be useful and will certainly shape further guidelines for promoting our strategic partnership. |
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Assessment |
· Both sides recognized the significance of the informal talks. · The informal talk format has been welcomed as an additional part of the bilateral relationship. · The informal talk will become a regular affair between India and Russia. |
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Bilateral Relations |
The two leaders agreed that the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia is an important factor for global peace and stability.
PM Modi said that “Russia is a very old friend of India. For a long time now, India and Russia have been unceasing friends.”
Tweet: PM Modi said “Friendship between India and Russia is special. New energy in India-Russia ties will benefit our citizens.
PM Modi said that “From the year 2000, when you assumed Presidency, you have had an unceasing relation with India. After becoming the President, when you came to India for the first time, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India. During that time your description of India –Russia relations as ‘India and Russia are old Civilizations and strong democracies-eternal democracies’ is still remembered by the people of India.”
Due to close partnership, India’s vision for Russia in the words of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, since 2000, is “Due to our longstanding friendship with Russia, India wants to see Russia as a strong and confident state which has an important role in a multipolar world.” |
President Putin said “There is no need to explain Russian-Indian relations, since we all know that they have deep roots. However, we have been able to create additional momentum recently.” The cooperation in foreign policy, multilateral as well as in the defence sector is “indicative of the high level of strategic relations between our countries”.
During the visit at the Sirius Centre, Sochi, President Putin while addressing the gathering of the school children and stuff said “Today we have here with us a great friend of our country, a great friend of Russia, the head of the Indian Government, Mr Modi.” |
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Strategic Partnership |
PM Modi said that “18 years ago when India was progressing under the leadership of Prime Minister Vajpayee, it was then that the seeds of strategic partnership were sown along with you. Today, we both can proudly say that the seeds sown by you and Prime Minister Vajpayee have matured into a giant banyan tree. It evolved into a Special Privileged Strategic Partnership. This is a very big achievement in itself.”
The MEA statement stated that the two leaders agreed that the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia is an important factor for global peace and stability.
Both leaders held detailed exchange of views on the national development plans and priorities. They expressed satisfaction over the deep trust, mutual respect and goodwill that characterize relations between India and Russia. |
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his interaction with media on the informal talks said that in this group we discussed, in fact, all areas of our particularly privileged strategic partnership – this is how we refer to the Russia-India relationship.” |
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Assessment |
· The special privileged partnership between Russia and India is based on a high degree of mutual trust, the coincidence of key geopolitical interests, shared approaches toward topical issues and the similarity of economic and social development goals. |
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Personal Relations Amongst PM Modi and President Putin |
PM Modi said “President Putin - a friend of India, my personal friend. I am very happy to be the guest of President Putin.”
“We have discussed openly every bilateral and international relation issues. We have got the opportunity to move ahead together with confidence. I would like to express my happiness about this.”
“As a true friend you have always remembered me. Last year you honored me by inviting me to St. Petersburg to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. I thank you for this. |
President Putin said “We are delighted to see you, Mr Prime Minister, and consider you personally as a big friend of our country. We are very glad to be able to have this meeting.” |
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Assessment |
· “In a special gesture, President Putin bid farewell to PM Modi at the airport. · Due to the personal relationship between the two leaders, they were able to discuss openly about bilateral as well as international issues. The frank discussions will help further boost the strategic partnership between India and Russia. |
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Economics and Energy Sectors |
Tweet: PM Modi and President Putin discussed ways to boost economic as well as cultural ties between Russia and India.
The MEA statement noted that both leaders agreed to institute a Strategic Economic Dialogue between NITI Aayog of India and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, to identify greater synergy in trade and investment. They noted with satisfaction the expanding cooperation in the energy sector and, in this regard, welcomed the arrival of the first consignment of LNG under a long-term agreement between Gazprom and GAIL, next month.
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President Putin said “Last year, our trade saw a significant increase, adding another 17 percent since the beginning of the year.”
Mr. Lavrov added that the talks were “focused particularly on the economy, in part the steady growth in trade of about 20 per cent last year. We spoke in detail about the steps to be taken to ensure a strong economic foundation for the summit” in October 2018. The success of the joint Priority Investment Projects Group and the activities of the corresponding departments of the respective governments in developing a new mechanism were discussed. Focus was on the action strategy for trade, economic and investment cooperation.
Oil supplies from Russia to India increased tenfold over the past year. There are major plans for continuing cooperation between Russian oil corporations, primarily, Rosneft,. Gazprom renewed this year the agreement with its Indian partners on supplying liquefied natural gas. Gazprom Neft has interesting plans and is also conducting negotiations with its Indian partners.
On nuclear energy, Mr. Lavrov said that all technical issues regarding the construction of the fifth and sixth units of the Kudankulam NPP have been worked through. The practical work is about to begin. The two countries talked about plans in the sphere of peaceful use of nuclear energy. India is serious about taking an active part in implementing them. |
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Assessment |
· The trade volume between India and Russia in the first few months of 2018 has been US $ 11 billion8. In 2016-17, total trade went up to US$ 7.48 billion, registering a growth rate of 21.33 per cent. There is an increase of 16.47 per cent in the total percentage of growth in 2017-2018.9 · The target of achieving $30 billion in trade volume by 2030 is achievable. With the two leaders showing focused interest in opening up various avenues for cooperation in other commodities and areas such as infrastructure development, agriculture, ICT, innovation should help in boosting the target. · Both the countries cooperate in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The nuclear power projects at the Kudankulam site are transforming it into one of India's largest energy hubs. The discussions on collaborating in third countries in areas of nuclear energy can also help in boosting the trade volume. · Under the 2017, St. Petersburg Declaration, both the countries are cooperating to build the ‘Energy bridge’ and expand bilateral relations in all areas of energy cooperation, including nuclear, hydrocarbon, hydel and renewable energy sources and in improving energy efficiency. · Joint projects on exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Arctic shelf of the Russian Federation are also under discussion. |
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Defence and Space Sector |
The two leaders also reiterated the significance of longstanding partnership in the military, security and nuclear energy fields and welcomed the ongoing cooperation in these areas. |
President Putin said “We have established close contacts and collaboration between our defence agencies.”
Mr. Lavrov said that the two leaders discussed the cooperation in the sphere of outer space exploration, including cooperation under GLONASS project, aircraft construction, the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals and the chemical industry. |
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Assessment |
· India and Russia are collaborating in joint manufacture, co-production and co-development of military hardware and military spares. · In 2017, the first tri-service military exercise under the banner of ‘INDRA” took place between the two countries boosting the trust they share in this sector. · The S-400 missile defense system is the latest in the defense cooperation between the two countries. The production of Kamav helicopters and frigates is also in the pipeline. |
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Technology |
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India is actively developing high technology; it has many interesting and promising development centres. |
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Assessment |
· India and Russia are focusing on cooperating closely in the area of 4.0 Industrial Revolution through their high-ending products and strengthen scientific collaboration in areas such as space technology, aviation, new materials, agriculture, information and communication technologies, medicine, pharmaceuticals, robotics, nanotechnology, supercomputing technologies, artificial intelligence and material sciences. |
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Education |
At the Sirius Centre, Sochi, PM Modi said to the children “If you make a programme to visit India, I would like that a tour is organised from here to India every year and I personally will spare one or two hours with you and I will get to know something, I will learn something from you, and I will organize an interaction with the children of India.” |
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Assessment |
· To further boost the bilateral relationship between India and Russia, education and culture has been focused. · To increase people-to-people contact, the two countries are focusing on joint projects in education, science, culture and sports. · India might host the Russian school children this year keeping in the lines of PM Modi’s invitation to the children in the Sirius Educational Center. It might become an annual event between India and Russia. |
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Multilateral Organizations |
PM Modi said that “It is also a matter of joy to see that we are working together and moving ahead successfully in oganisations like SCO-where you played a major role in getting India its permanent membership, BRICS, INSTC or mechanisms like Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).” |
President Putin said “Russia and India are proactive in their foreign policy cooperation, including within international organisations such as the UN, BRICS, and now the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.”
Mr. Lavrov said that President Putin and PM Modi spoke on the interaction in international affairs, such as at the UN and as part of the Russia-India-China troika, BRICS, and the SCO. |
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Assessment |
· India and Russia, as major powers of Eurasia, are collaborating as equal partners under various multilateral banners. · India’s membership at the SCO is seen as a key element in enhancing “the Organization's capabilities to ensure peace and stability, achieve economic development and prosperity in Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as improve the Organization's international standing.”10 · Enhancing connectivity through the INSTC would be beneficial for both the countries as well as the region. It can also further strengthens their potential collaboration in third countries such as Afghanistan. |
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World Order |
The MEA statement stated that they shared the view that India and Russia have an important role to play in contributing to an open and equitable world order. In this regard, they recognized each other’s respective roles as major powers with common responsibilities for maintaining global peace and stability. The two leaders held in depth discussions on major international issues. They agreed on the importance of building a multipolar world order.
At the Sirius Educational Centre, PM Modi said to the children that “Your bright future is linked with Russia and Russia’s bright future is destined to play a major role in peace and stability of the world.” |
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Assessment |
· India and Russia have a common view on the future world order. They share the vision of a multipolar world order. · Both oppose any recourse to unilateralism or lack of respect for sovereignty, ignoring the core concerns and legitimate interests of countries. The two countries do not accept the unilateral use of political and economic sanctions as a means of exerting pressure. · India understands the important role of Russia in the international affairs. |
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Terrorism/Radicalism |
The MEA statement noted that both leaders expressed their concern over terrorism and radicalization, and their determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In this context, they endorsed the importance of restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan in an atmosphere free from the threat of terrorism, and agreed to work together towards achieving this objective. |
Mr. Lavrov said that “Russia and India focus particularly on the action programme to combat extremism, separatism and terrorism. We reaffirmed our support for the Indian initiative, which has been discussed at the UN for several years now, on developing a comprehensive convention on combating terrorism. We fully support it.” |
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Assessment |
· India and Russia condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. · On November 2017, both the countries signed a comprehensive anti-terror pact agreement for enhancing bilateral cooperation in tackling all forms of terrorism and countering threat posed by narcotics. · India and Russia under this 2017 pact agreed that terrorism must be fought unitedly and there were no good or bad terrorists. |
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Indo-Pacific |
The two leaders decided to intensify consultation and coordination with each other, including on the Indo-Pacific Region. |
On discussions between the two leaders, Mr. Lavrov noted that “much of the discussion revolved around the trends that we observe in the Asia-Pacific region (APR). President Putin and Prime Minister Modi expressed their unequivocal support for the new security and cooperation architecture in the APR to be based on the principles of non-alignment, openness and equal and indivisible security for all. In this vein, the sides mentioned the trends that are unfolding in Eurasia.” |
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Assessment |
· India and Russia in the St. Petersburg Declaration of 2017 decided to continue facilitating efforts to build an open, well-balanced and inclusive security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region based on shared principles and taking into account the legitimate interests of all States of the region, including through the development of relevant dialogue in the framework of the East Asia Summit. |
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EAEU |
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On EAEU, Mr. Lavorov said that ‘all formalities in contacts between India and the EAEU have been finalized. Talks are planned to be held in the autumn on creating a free trade zone between the EAEU and India. All these processes are in harmony with the developments in the SCO and relations between our countries and ASEAN members. This “major Eurasian project,” as President Putin called it some time ago, is based on “real-life needs,” does not shut the door in anyone’s face, and is open to all countries which can cooperate in this vast geopolitical space on mutually beneficial terms.’ |
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Assessment |
· The FTA between India and EAEU would help New Delhi to alleviate barriers to commercial cooperation. The agreement will further provide greater market access for Indian Industry in the Eurasian Regions and onward into Europe. · According to the Joint Feasibility Study Group report of 2016, the potential growth of bilateral trade between India and EAEU ranges between $37-62 billion.11 |
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OPCW |
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Mr. Lavorv stated that both the leaders “confirmed that Russia and India will firmly oppose attempts to politicize the OPCW activities, which we recently observed.” |
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Assessment |
· On 6 April, India abstained from voting on Russia’s proposal at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for a joint Anglo-Russian investigation into the poisoning of a former Russian double agent and his daughter in the UK by a military grade nerve agent. The incident had become highly politicized. India maintained its position on strictly conducting the investigation in accordance with the provisions of the Convention. · India and Russia’s close cooperation can help in controlling situations from becoming politicized leading to outcomes such as sanctions etc. |
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Conclusion
With the successful outcome the informal meet between PM Modi and President Putin, both the countries are preparing towards the forthcoming Summit in India later this year.12
In the changing geopolitical scenario, India and Russia’s relationship can be hailed as unique and special. It would be important to continue the ‘time-tested special and privileged’ strategic partnership given the quickened transformation in the regional and global level. Their bilateral relation also complements their multilateral engagements such as in the formats of United Nations, BRICS, G 20, SCO, Russia-India-China (RIC) etc.
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* The Authoress, Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are that of the Researcher and not of the Council.
Endnotes
2“PM’s statement prior to his departure to Russia”, PM India, May 20, 2018. http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pms-statement-prior-to-his-departure-to-russia/?comment=disable (Accessed on June 9, 2018).
3“Informal Summit between India and Russia Sochi, 21 May 2018”, Narendra Modi, May 21, 2018. https://www.narendramodi.in/informal-summit-between-india-and-russia-sochi-21-may-2018-540165 (Accessed on June 7, 2018).
4) “Informal Summit between India and Russia Sochi”, Ministry of External Affairs, 21 May 2018, http://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/29908/Informal_Summit_between_India_and_Russia_May_21_2018 (Accessed on June 7, 2018).
5“Informal Summit between India and Russia”, PM India, May 21, 2018. http://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/informal-summit-between-india-and-russia/?comment=disable (Accessed on June 8, 2018) and https://twitter.com/PMOIndia (Accessed on June 8, 2018).
8Spoke to an official under Chatham House rule.
9Department of Commerce: export Import Data Bank, Country Wise, June 19, 2018. http://commerce-app.gov.in/eidb/iecnt.asp (Accessed on June 19, 2018).
12“Informal Summit between India and Russia Sochi”, Ministry of External Affairs, 21 May 2018, op.cit.